Infiniti - Nissan's luxury brand - to hit UK 2009

The Infiniti G37 coupe will come with a 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine producing 300bhp

Watch out Lexus – Nissan’s luxury arm Infiniti will hit UK shores in April 2009 with a range of hot models, including the 300bhp Infiniti G37 coupe.

The Infiniti brand – which is owned by Nissan – is already offered in the USA and Canada, and will launch in Europe from October 2008.

And Infiniti is looking to build on over 20 years’ success in the American market, after it was launched in 1989 to compete with Toyota’s luxury Lexus brand, and the Honda-owned Acura.

France, Italy and Spain will be the first countries to get Infiniti branded models – but UK buyers will have to wait until April 2009 at the earliest.

And the Infiniti brand promises a range of mouth-watering models on launch – including the hot G37 coupe and saloon.

On launch, the Infiniti G37 coupe and saloon will come with a 3.7-litre V6 petrol engine producing 300bhp driving the rear wheels – think BMW 335i and Mercedes CLK320, which are the G37’s natural European rivals.

Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) has worked closely with the Infiniti team to ensure the new models can compete with the premium German brands, including development at the legendary Nürburgring racetrack in Germany and road-tests on challenging British tarmac.

Infiniti will also offer up a crossover SUV badged EX37, which follows the mould of the new BMW X6, blending 4x4 practicality with coupe looks and handling.

The new EX37 will also come fitted with the 3.7-litre V6 engine and is attached to a seven-speed automatic and “intelligent” four-wheel-drive.

Prices for the G37 and EX37 have not been announced, but expect to pay similar prices to its German rivals when it arrives in 2009.